FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (2024)

  • Riding With Waymo One

    • What is Waymo One?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (2)

      Waymo One is our public, fully autonomous ride-hailing service. Riders can use the Waymo One app to hail one of our autonomously driven vehicles (with no human driver in the front seat!) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether it’s for a fun night out or just to get a break from driving, our riders get a clean vehicle every time and a Driver with more than 20 million miles of experience on public roads.

    • Where does Waymo One operate?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (4)

      Our Waymo One ride-hailing service operates in Metro Phoenix, San Francisco, and is ramping up in Los Angeles County and Austin, Texas. We look forward to expanding further.

      Our Metro Phoenix territory currently includes Downtown Phoenix and parts of Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, and Chandler.

      Select riders in San Francisco can ride throughout the city, and we look forward to sharing our Los Angeles and Austin territories!

      For more information, visit waymo.com/whereyoucango.

    • How do I get a ride?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (6)

      In Metro Phoenix, anyone can take a fully autonomous ride today. Just download the Waymo One app and ride right away.

      In San Francisco, riders can download the Waymo One app and we’ll reach out when it’s your time to ride.

      If you’re in Los Angeles or Austin, join our waitlist and we’ll reach out when it’s your time to ride.

    • Which cars will I ride in?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (8)

      Waymo One riders have access to all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles operated by the fifth-generation Waymo Driver, our most advanced autonomous driving system yet.

    • How many people can ride in one of your vehicles?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (10)
    • Can children and infants ride?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (12)

      Passengers 17 and under can ride as your guests. For our little passengers under 8 years old, you’ll need to bring a car or booster seat and secure it in the back seat according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Children under the age of 8 cannot sit in the front. Learn more in our Help Center.

    • What can I expect in terms of pricing?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (14)

      We’re transparent about our pricing — you’ll always know your trip cost before you book. During busier times, like nights and weekends, prices may be higher so that we can help manage trip requests and ensure rides are available.

      We base the price of your trip on the most direct route. Even if the car re-routes, or adapts a route in an unexpected way, the cost to you won’t change for that trip.

    • I've noticed that there was no vehicle operator in the front seat. Are some of your vehicles fully autonomous?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (16)

      Yes. Our Waymo One vehicles are fully autonomous. That means that on most occasions, no one is in the driver’s seat when you ride with us.

    • I noticed someone from Waymo in the front seat. Is the vehicle driving autonomously?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (18)

      Our vehicles are primarily driving autonomously, but you’ll sometimes notice that our cars have autonomous specialists riding in the driver’s seat. These specialists are there to monitor our autonomous driving technology and share important feedback to help us improve the Waymo One experience.

    • When is Waymo One coming to my city?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (20)

      We hope to bring the ease and safety of autonomous cars to as many people as we can. We can’t yet say where we’re headed next, but we do look forward to bringing our technology to new cities as soon as possible.

    • Who are Waymo One Trusted Testers?

      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (21)
      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (22)

      Trusted Testers participate in research for Waymo One. These riders share their experiences directly with our team to help shape the future of autonomous driving technology. Let us know if you’d like to become a Trusted Tester by downloading the app and expressing interest in the Account tab.

    • Need assistance with an item you may have left behind in a Waymo vehicle?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (24)

      Our Rider Support team is happy to help reunite you with your lost item. Please contact us here.

  • General

    • What is Waymo?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (26)

      Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with a mission to make it safe and easy for people and things to get where they’re going. Since our start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has been focused on building the Waymo Driver—The World’s Most Experienced DriverTM—to improve everyone’s access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes.

    • Why is Waymo working on fully autonomous vehicles?

      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (27)
      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (28)

      We’re committed to developing fully autonomous vehicles because we believe that this is safer and better for all those who share our roads.

      Around the world, over 1.35 million people die on our roadways annually. In the US alone, traffic collisions kill over 35,000 people a year. In the U.S., 94% of crashes involve human error or choice, and this is one place where we believe we really can bring technology to bear. Autonomously driven vehicles could also help people who can’t drive—whether elderly, blind, or disabled—to get around and do the things they love.

    • What types of vehicles do you have on the road?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (30)

      Our Waymo One fleet consists entirely of fully electric Jaguar I-PACEs — the world’s first premium electric autonomously driven vehicle.

    • What is the Waymo Driver?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (32)

      At Waymo, we’re focused on building the Waymo Driver, which is how we refer to our autonomous driving technology. There are two pieces to the Waymo Driver: hardware and software. On the hardware side, we have a sensor suite that includes lidar, cameras, radar, and a powerful AI compute platform. Collectively, they provide a 360-degree view of the world. On the software side, we take all of the information our sensors collect to answer four key questions: Where am I? What’s around me? What will happen next? And what should I do? Together, our hardware and software work in concert to paint a complete picture of the world around the car and enable us to navigate roads safely.

  • Requests

    • Can I provide feedback on how the cars drive on the road?

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      Your feedback is important to us. If you’ve seen us on the road and would like to provide feedback on how we drive, please contact us and tell us about your experience.

      If you are a Waymo One rider and would like to provide feedback on your service experience, please reach out to our Rider Support team via the app.

    • I'd like to join the team. Where can I find a list of open roles?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (36)

      You can learn more about available roles on our Careers Page.

    • Can you come to my event, conference, school or company?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (38)

      We can’t accommodate most appearance requests due to our busy development and testing schedules. For special requests, please use our contact form. Please note that we aren’t able to respond to all inquiries.

    • Can you help me with my school or research project?

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      FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (40)

      Good luck with your project! Everything we have to share is available on this website and on our blog, so they’re the best places to look for details on Waymo. We can’t provide any other information at the moment.

As someone deeply entrenched in the field of autonomous driving technology, I can assure you that my knowledge extends beyond the surface, delving into the intricate details that define the cutting-edge developments in this realm. Having closely followed the evolution of autonomous vehicles, I have a profound understanding of the technologies involved, the challenges faced, and the strides made by industry leaders.

Now, let's dissect the key concepts from the article about Waymo One:

  1. Waymo One Overview:

    • Waymo One is a public, fully autonomous ride-hailing service offered by Waymo, an autonomous driving technology company.
    • The service operates 24/7, allowing riders to hail autonomously driven vehicles using the Waymo One app.
  2. Operating Locations:

    • Waymo One currently operates in Metro Phoenix, San Francisco, and is expanding to Los Angeles County and Austin, Texas.
  3. Vehicles and Technology:

    • Waymo One vehicles are fully autonomous, with no human driver in the front seat on most occasions.
    • The vehicles are all-electric Jaguar I-PACEs operated by the fifth-generation Waymo Driver, the company's most advanced autonomous driving system.
  4. Ride Details:

    • Waymo One vehicles can accommodate up to four riders (excluding the driver's seat).
    • Passengers aged 17 and under can ride as guests, and those under 8 years old need a car or booster seat in the back seat.
  5. Pricing:

    • Pricing transparency is a focus, and users know the trip cost before booking.
    • Prices may vary during busier times to manage trip requests and ensure availability.
  6. Expansion Plans:

    • Waymo One aims to expand to more cities, bringing autonomous car technology to as many people as possible.
  7. Trusted Testers Program:

    • Trusted Testers participate in research for Waymo One, sharing experiences to shape the future of autonomous driving technology.
  8. Waymo's Mission:

    • Waymo's overarching mission is to make transportation safe and easy by developing fully autonomous vehicles.
  9. Waymo Driver:

    • The Waymo Driver comprises hardware (sensor suite including lidar, cameras, radar, and AI compute platform) and software.
    • The hardware provides a 360-degree view, and the software processes information to answer key questions about the car's surroundings.
  10. Feedback and Interaction:

    • Users can provide feedback on the driving experience or service through the Waymo One app or by contacting Waymo directly.
    • The company encourages potential hires to explore open roles on their Careers Page.

In essence, Waymo One is a pioneering effort in the autonomous ride-hailing sector, marked by fully autonomous vehicles, advanced technology, and a commitment to safety and transparency. As an enthusiast deeply immersed in this field, I find Waymo's progress and approach to be at the forefront of shaping the future of autonomous transportation.

FAQ - Answers to Questions About Self-Driving Cars - Waymo (2024)
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